Why Malaysian court ruling against Najib is dividing Anwar’s coalition
A comment by a DAP member that is perceived as celebrating Najib’s legal setback has been slammed by Umno’s leaders
The Kuala Lumpur High Court on Monday rejected Najib’s application to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, ruling that a purported addendum to a royal clemency order “had no legal effect because it was never deliberated by the Pardons Board”.
The decision meant the 72-year-old remains in Kajang Prison, where he is serving a reduced six-year sentence over the misappropriation of 42 million ringgit (US$10.3 million) of public funds from a former subsidiary of the scandal-ridden sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. Najib’s lawyers have said they plan to appeal.
On Friday, the court is due to deliver its verdict in a separate, larger case against Najib involving billions of ringgit allegedly siphoned from 1MDB, charges he has denied.
The court ruling on Monday prompted a lawmaker from the Democratic Action Party, a key ally of Anwar’s ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition, to post a comment on social media widely seen as rejoicing at Najib’s setback.
The party’s Publicity Secretary Yeo Bee Yin shared a news article on the ruling with a caption that reads: “Another reason to celebrate this year end.”